Suspension apparatus for steamboat rudders



Feb. 22,1927. 1,618,175v

L. w. DoAKA SUSPENSION APPARATUS FOR S'IEANIBOAT` RUDDERS Filed April 12. 192e,-

WIIIIMIIIIIIW illlll Milli6 Patented Y Feb. 22, 1927.

LEoNARnW noemer DRAvosBURe,zrnitnsfscnvlmra.

applicaffonfm'i 'April 12, 1926. serial 1to1 101,588.'

' expensive to manufacture yand install.

lVith the foregoing andjother-objects in vieiv which 5will' appear vas the description proceeds, "the invention resides vin lthe com# 'bin'atidn "and 'arrangement 'o'f parts and V1n 'the details of construction hereinafter described. and claimed, it being Aunderstood vthat *changes in the precise embodiment' of the invention hereinafter disclosed can be lmade Within 'the lscope 'of what is claimed Withoutl vdeparting'fromthe spirit 'of the invention. 'i 1 Tn the drawing wherein like numerals Vof `reference designate corresponding. :parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is la Eside*elevational `View partly 'fin section, bf a.suspension'apparatus confst'ruct'ed in accordance with the invent-ion.4

` Figure 2 'isifa Lrear View `rof the housing and associated parts, 'the 'latterfbeing l'puftly meenden. A

Figis an elevation partly in sectionof 'the intermediate link.v Q 4 1 @Referring indetail tothe drawing, 11 denotes a vertically disposed cylindrical bearing` 'housing l'provided with a 'bore l2. The housing 11 is 4adapted'totb'e'fixedly secured in position and for that purpose 'is integrally formed With a plurality of apertured secur-y ing brackets 3, preferably disposed on the rear side of the housing 1. It will, of course, be obvious that the housing 1 may be fixed in position in any other suitable manner to best meet conditions found in practice. The housing 1 is formed with an enlarged upper end 1 having a correspondingly enlarged bore 5 for the purpose to be described.

A tubular stem 6 is rotatably mounted in the bore 2 of the cylindrical housing 1. The.` stem 6 is provided With a collar 7 dispos-ed adjacent to the upper end thereof, and with an elongated collar- 8 disposed adjacent to the lower end of the stem 1. The collars 7 and 8 are preferably integrally formed With vthe ste1n`6' and are provided to reduce friction to facilitate thefrotation-of the vlatter inthe bearing housing 1. `V

The lovv'er'end of the stem 6 visforined to provide a flattened 'sock'etQ suitable .for at- 'tachmei'it'to 'the stock ofa steamboat rudder or tolany other structure adaptable to my improved device. The s tenr 6 is further formed with an annular Hang-eID, which abuts against the 'loW'erfend ofthe housingfl and is disposed directly `against 'theQloW'er end of the elongated collar 8. The ange 10isintended'toprevent as nearly as v'pos sible, theentrance of Water int'of fthel'hoy'using bore 2 when the. devic'eji's utilifzed 'for steam-1 boat rudder suspension. j Although y thev 'lower 'end ofthe housing 1 'is normally not vii'nrnersed'in the Water, it is Vin` proximity thereto and is v'subjected 'to continuous splashing from: the operation of the propeller Wheel;

' The stem- 6 is suspended inthe housing 1 by a series of" interconnected suspension links, namely, the stem link 11, the inter- 'mediate link 12, Vand the hanger `link 13. The stem link 11, is connected inthe bore 14,

of the" stern `6,by means Vof abolt 15. The.V

latten i'rtendstran'svers'ely 'through the stein 6, adjacent to the upper end thereof, .and

through uit, aligned aperta-radi bosses 16,

which. areforme'd integralwith the stem 6, and disposed in the Astem bore 114 on respective Sides ffth'eflink 11. '.Theupper'end of the stem link'` 11 is provided vvith an integrally forniedjtlepenfding vpivoting pin 17 v which engages the'pivoting 'socket Y form/ed integrally 'With V.the vlovver end off 'the intere mediate link 12. The VLlatteri's 'also 'provided at its 'upper end With a depending integrally formed pivoting pin 19;

A hanger 2O is adfustably fixed in the supporting structure 21.

bolt 22. The lower end of the hanger link 13 is' provided with anintegrally formed pivoting socket 23 engaged by the pivoting pin 19of the .intermediate link 12.

The stem 6 is vertically adjusted in the housingl by the adjustment of the hanger 20 in the supporting structure 21. The upward adjustment of the stem 6, is of course limited by the abutment of the flange 10 against the lower end of the housing 1.

A. forward extending operating lever 24, is xedly clamped to the upper end of the The hanger link 13 is secured to the hanger 20 by means of a.

Y videdto carry the stem 6 when the former isy stem `6 by means of a bolt 25. The lever 24 is further iixed in position by a pair of tie rods 26, the forward ends of which are secured in the lever 24, Vas indicated at 27 while the rear ends. thereof lare attached against the respective sides of the stem 6 by the bolt 15.

A comparatively heavy collar 28 is loosely mounted on the stem 6 and is positioned in the enlarged bore 5, of the enlarged upper end of the housing 1. The collar 28 is proengaged by the rear ends of the tie rods 26 in the eventof accidental breakage of any of the suspension links 11, 12 and 13. The stem 6 while carried by the collar 28, as above stated, is operable for temporary use until repair to the suspension links are made.

The enlarged housing bore 5, and the suspension link pivoting sockets 18 and 23 are adapted to be lpacked with lubrication to facilitate the operation of the device. A tube 28 communicates with the housing bore 2 and is intended to permit of supplying lubrication to the elongated stem collar 8 and the contacting lower end of the housingl.

The construction of the device permits of the rotation of the stem 6 in the housing in either direction to a distance permitted by' the interconnected links 11, 12 and 13, but such partial rotation is suflicient for the operation of a steamboat rudder for which` the mechanism is primarily intended.

That I claim is: 1. A suspension apparatus comprising a bearing housing adapted to be fixedlv secured in the vertical position, a stem rotatably mounted in said housing, a hanger memi ber adapted to be fixed in position in a supporting structure, and a series of interconnected links connected with said hanger member andwith said stemv for shiftably Ysuspending the latter in said housing, and

an operating lever fixed to said stem for shifting the latter in said housing. Y

2. A suspension apparatus for steamboat rudder comprising a cylindrical bearing housing adaptedto be ixedly secured in the vertical position, a stem rotatably mounted in said housing, the lower end of said stem formed to permit of its attachment to the rudder, a'hanger member adapated to b e fixed in a supporting structure, 'and a series of interconnected links connected with said hanger member and with said stem for shiftably suspending the latter in said'liousing, and an operating lever fixed to said stem for shifting the latter in said housing.

8. In combination, a suspension apparatus for a steamboat rudder comprising a cylindrical housing having an enlarged upper end and adapted to beiixedly securedv in the vertical position, a stem provided' with a pair of integrally formed collars mounted in said housing, said stem formed with a flange abutting against the lower end of said housino the lower end of said stem formed to permit of its attachment to the rudder, a hanger member adapted to be connected to a supporting structure, a hanger link having its upper end connected to said hanger member and formed with a pivoting socket atY its lower end, a stem link provided with a pivoting pin at its upper end, a bolt extending Y stem in said housing, a collar loosely' mounted on said stem and positioned in saidenlarged end of said housing, an operating lever fixed to the upper end of said stem, and a pair of tie rods connected at one end to said lever and at the other ends to said stem by said bolt, substantially as'describedland for the purpose set forth. i

In testimony whereof I afx my signature.

LEONARD W; DUAK. 

